Local Land services proposed changes causing confusion

Many NSW farmers and Landholders are feeling left out of the process that will decide on the format of the new local land services.

Landholders are taking issue with the boundaries, the uncertainty about the level of the rates and are not happy with what they are being told about where the staff be based, to provide advice.

John Keniry is the Chairman of the review Panel and he says he is still following the Ryan Review recommendations to have a fully-appointed skills-based board that can deal with Natural Resource Management, Biosecurity and Emergency issues.

He says it is not surprising that the Reference panel became political but he rejects the suggestion that this is body is not representative of people using services or that farmers are being ignored or are not being included in the process.

The Farmers Association's President Fiona Simson says the people who are paying for the services, such as the farmers, should have more say than they currently do.

She says the Association members are very disappointed at the way their views have been dismissed in the process so far.